The 50 Best Linux GTK Themes

One of the often touted best features of Linux is one's ability to manipulate the system to meet their personal needs and tastes. One of the ways this is done is via themes, GTK being one such variation. For business users, those who want to give Linux a good impression amongst those who may see it, or if you simply want a sleek theme that goes well with your lifestyle, below you'll find 50 (updated from 18) professional GTK themes for your system.

1. Kupo Finale

This theme is pure beauty. With sharp edges, smooth gradients, and unobtrusive windows, this GTK theme shows that minimalist doesn't have to mean bland, and that professional can has a style all of its own.

3. VistaBut 1.2

So some individuals might complain about the merits of having a theme that makes Linux look just like Vista, but remember that an operating system is not its looks. This theme looks very similar to Windows Vista, and is quite professional.

6. GTK-QT

7. Catartica

Just because a theme is smooth and professional doesn't mean it has to look like it belongs to a 65-year-old CEO. Catartica, though its name reminds me of cataracts, is a nice splash of modern youth combined with easy-on-the-eye graphics and an a smooth look that would be appropriate for any office.

11. Perfect Gnome Suite

This theme is for those who like everything light in color: light background, light icons, light menus. Its background is simple and plain, while its large, almost cartoonish icons give a bold statement.

12. Wii Black

This is the perfect theme for someone who works in a slightly relaxed environment. With the menus closed, it is like any other minimalist dark theme; maximize some windows, however, and there's just enough fun going to make you smile.

13. Aero Clone

This theme is for any of you who work in a strick workplace where the slightest deviation from the norm is frowned upon. Upon a quick glance--or even a slightly longer one--this theme looks just like Windows Vista, and will keep the difference-phobes calm.

20. Orta

21. Aldabra

Adwaita is the default GNOME3 theme, and Aldabra uses the Pixmap and Murrine engines in creative ways to mimic and enhance that. There are still some minor issues with the implementation, but none of them deal-breakers.

25. Diehard 4

Diehard 4 is all about attention to detail. There’s a lot of structure here, and it’s an excellent option for users who like highly organized desktop environments. It’s a particularly fine choice for software and graphic designers.

26. Elements

Elements is a total redesign based on Elementary. All of the aspects that made Elementary so great are still here, but this has unity panel support and all the other features modern Linux users demand.

28. Malys

29. Absolute

The developer of Absolute describes it as simple, clean and elegant, and we agree. There’s nothing innovative here, but this theme is very polished, and it does simple, clean and elegant as well as any theme.

30. ANewStart

ANewStart is a slick, clear theme that uses transparency and a number of other clever effects. This is a low-contrast theme, which we like, but may make reading and other activities difficult in some environments.

31. Soothe

Soothe is a gorgeous and powerful theme, and its intriguing because it takes user customization to the next level. The drawback to that is that it does require the user to dig around under the hood to get the most out of it.

32. Hope

Hope has been around since the earliest days of GTK. This current version is refined, and it has a wide range of modern features while still managing to hold onto the basic elements that have always made Hope so popular.

40. Sammy

41. Ffuu

This GTK theme is a very powerful Zuki mod with a great look and many customization options. Important to know is that it’s for power users and it’s not user-friendly at all so beginners might want to stay away from this one.

42. BorderLine

43. Prudence Next Generation

The latest version of Prudence is sleek, powerful and customizable. There’s not a lot of innovation here — beyond the last generation Prudence that is — but it does refined and stable as well as any theme can.

49. Marples Black

Marples Black is an extremely stylish dark theme that uses numerous transparency and texture effects. There is much attention to detail here, and the developers consistently update it, so this is well on its way to becoming the best GTK dark theme available.

50. Drakfire Dream Suite

Based on Adwaita and Unico, the Drakfire Dream Suite is a powerful theme platform built color neutral, and it comes with two distinct versions built in: dark/black and light/white. It lags a little in terms of refinement, but it has a very promising future.

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Written by David Walsh

David Walsh is the editor in chief here at Web Hosting Search. Having been in the industry for many years now he knows pretty much everything about everything. At least that's what he keeps telling everyone at the office. So, don't hesitate to drop him a line if you've got a question - david(a)webhostingsearch.com.

Potentially dumb question: do these themes work with GTK2? I'm running ubuntu 11.10, which has GTK2 (i.e., not GTK3... I think). I've read that GTK3 themes don't work with GTK2 and, by extension, ubuntu 11.10.

Thanks.

LandRiders7th, 29 January, 2011

Man those themes look really nice.
I always wounder how they make them or what program do they use to make those type of themes?

kmonk, 31 July, 2010

dark and minimilist should also be functional!.
Looks like some of the theme artists are finally getting this point, these are for the most part very, very nice themes.
especially the fake aero theme! Ahahah! Eat that you dirty gates worshippers.

W, 25 January, 2010

Thanks for the article - love the Ubuntu Dust theme!

34476, 10 September, 2009

Eh, Slickness is better than Raptor. Very cool theme (I use it right now) is ClearGlow.

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